Intex 18' Easy Set has millions of floating white strands - start over?

I got an Intex 18' Easy Set pool and filled it up and just ran it with the filter for two weeks. I bought the saltwater chlorination system but it was missing an adapter so I couldn't run it. I put a few cups of household bleach and about a pound of stabilizer in it hoping it would tide me over but now it has a million white strands of ? I don't know what floating all throughout it. Kind of pulpy white/translucent strands about a half inch long. Also there are tiny worms at the bottom - some are alive. Ew.

Should I start over and empty the pool and refill when I get the saltwater system going (the missing adapter is in the mail)? Or should I try to work with this water? What is this pulpy stuff?

I have the standard filter that came with it - hoping I don't need to upgrade but from what I've read that may be inevitable.

Thanks!

Could it be cottonwood fibers?

Regardless, Intex pool filters are NOT good at clean up messes. If your water is not super expensive, restarting would certainly be easier.

But take a look at this page, first: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...p-routine-care.

With your pool draining, washing with bleach and refilling is probably easiest.
You need to TEST your water daily for adequate chlorine levels and proper pH balance. You'll need a proper test kit and the one in Pooldoc's sig, the Taylor K-2006 is the one.
Without knowing your stabilizer level and chlorine levels anything can happen and did. If there are living worms, GUARANTEED your chlorine level is too low!
I'd replace the filter cartridge too with the new water. You usually cannot run MORE than two weeks with an Intex cart without cleaning it.